Jobsite Power and Carbon Footprint Reduction Initiatives

Temporary Jobsite Power Emissions: Carbon Footprint Reduction Opportunities

Most of XL’s operations take place in temporary satellite offices located on jobsites, typically consisting of portable trailers powered by various fuel sources and electricity. Having an office on site is crucial to our operations, ensuring seamless communication between teams, strict tracking of documentation and safety protocols, and providing comfort in remote locations. These trailers are often powered by diesel generators due to a lack of grid access, especially in the early construction stages. This article explores opportunities for carbon footprint reduction, renewable energy integration, and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation by analyzing current emissions and evaluating alternative power solutions.

Heredia-Arriaga Trailer Case Study: Diesel Generator Emissions

We collected five months of diesel generator data from the Heredia-Arriaga trailer to evaluate the carbon footprint reduction potential. The trailer consumes 166 gallons of diesel monthly. Each gallon of diesel fuel costs $8.05 and emits 22.28 pounds of CO2, resulting in 3,698 pounds of CO2 emissions per month, along with an average operational cost of $1,273.

Diesel generators generate 9.5 kWh per gallon of fuel, meaning the trailer uses 1,580 kWh of energy per month at a rate of $0.81 per kWh. With a 1,215 square-foot trailer, the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is 44.3, which is better than the national office median of 52.9 reported by Energy Star. However, there is still room for carbon footprint reduction and improvements in greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation.

Diesel Generators vs. Grid Power: Emissions and Cost Comparison

Switching from diesel generators to grid electricity offers significant potential for carbon footprint reduction. Grid electricity in California emits 0.879 pounds of CO2 per kWh. If the Heredia-Arriaga trailer consumed 1,580 kWh per month from the grid, its emissions would drop to 1,389 pounds of CO2 per month—a 60% reduction in GHG emissions. Additionally, at a utility rate of $0.21 per kWh, operating costs would fall to $332 per month, compared to $1,273 with diesel.

Implementing Jobsite Environmental Impact Tracking

In 2022, we implemented environmental impact tracking at all our jobsites, with a focus on carbon footprint reduction, water use, and waste production. Since many of our staff work full-time in jobsite trailers, these operations contribute significantly to our overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To ensure thorough reporting, any jobsite meeting the following criteria must track carbon emissions, water use, and waste production:

• There must be a trailer seating 5 or more XL employees on site.
• The project schedule must be a minimum of 6 months from the time the team breaks ground, to substantial completion.
• The project must be a minimum of 20,000 s.f. of new construction or tenant improvement.
  We have implemented the above criteria because XL completes a variety of projects of many different sizes. Our smaller projects often do not have independent jobsite offices and therefore they do not have the same measurable environmental impact.

Each project that broke ground after July of 2022 is required to report water diversion, water use, and energy use.

Our data is collected through the Green Badger platform, which provides a dashboard for real-time tracking of energy use and carbon footprint reduction. Our primary challenge in 2022 was the inconsistency of data collection across different jobsites, which led to the need for a more standardized approach.

2023 Goals: Improving Accuracy and Data Consistency

Our current goal is to improve the accuracy and consistency of environmental impact reporting. We plan to install water and energy meters at all jobsite trailers to ensure more accurate data collection. With better data, we can set concrete goals for carbon footprint reduction and work toward achieving GHG mitigation and carbon neutrality in our jobsite operations.

Commitment to Renewable Energy and Carbon Footprint Reduction

At XL, we are dedicated to continuing our research into renewable energy integration and achieving carbon footprint reduction for our jobsite operations. By leveraging alternative energy sources like solar and grid electricity, we aim to reduce reliance on diesel generators, cut operational costs, and significantly mitigate GHG emissions. Our long-term goal is to reduce our environmental impact and work toward a more sustainable future for jobsite operations.

Exploring Renewable Energy Integration for Jobsite Trailers

One challenge we face is the lack of grid connections at many job sites, particularly during the early construction stages. To address this, we explored renewable energy integration through a solar power analysis for the Heredia-Arriaga trailer. The trailer’s roof offers 1,215 square feet of usable space, and by installing a 1,000-square-foot solar array, we could generate 36,000 kWh annually—more than enough to cover the trailer’s average yearly consumption of 18,971 kWh.

Using NREL’s PV Watts Calculator, we simulated monthly solar energy production to confirm that the system would meet the trailer’s needs, even during lower-sunlight months. In January 2021, for instance, the trailer consumed 1,638 kWh—less than the projected solar energy output for that month.

The estimated installation cost of the solar array is $2.70 per watt, resulting in a total cost of $64,800 for a 24 kW system. After incentives and tax credits (30%), the cost would drop to $45,360. This renewable energy integration not only reduces operational costs but also offers substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and carbon footprint reduction, with the system paying for itself within three years.